It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in San Antonio
By: Santino Casanova Photo by Irina Iriser on Pexels.com Downtown San Antonio is filled with fun activities for families and friends year-round, but during the month of November and December it is especially exciting with colorful Christmas lights hanging from the trees and buildings downtown. Starting from November 12th, 2021, the River Walk lights up…
pacpulse.comSan Antonio cleans house in statewide holiday lights list
Billy Calzada, Staff / Billy CalzadaResidents of San Antonio may feel a bit wistful when dreaming about our downtown holiday light display (especially when recalling the quiet glow of the River Walk's incandescent pre-LED bulb era). Whatever era of bulb is your preference, the display has never ceased to dazzle. Unsurprising to nostalgic residents, the San Antonio River Walk has topped Yelp's 2021 list of the the Top 20 Places to See Holiday Lights in Texas.
mysanantonio.comBusinesses’ issues with homeless spur BCSO patrols on San Antonio River Walk
Downtown businesses’ issues with people experiencing homelessness have spurred the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office to send deputies on patrol along the River Walk -- though not in great numbers nor with the ability to enforce all the local laws.
San Antonio River Walk will still turn green this March
It’s almost that special time of the year. The leprechauns are readying themselves to creep out in San Antonio and bars are preparing to drop green food coloring in their brews. RELATED: Brit Sisters plan new St.Patrick's Day rally following release of Britney Spears docThis year's River Walk parade and festival have been canceled again due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the San Antonio River will once again be turned green for three days starting March 14. Those who want to watch the dyeing of the river will be able to for free along the entire 2 and a half mile downtown portion of the River Walk. Eco-friendly green dye has been used to dye the River Walk a rich green since 1968.
mysanantonio.comSAPD fishes gun out of River Walk it says was used in a shooting at a downtown Whataburger
San Antonio police on Thursday fished a firearm out of the San Antonio River in the downtown River Walk area. According to police, the gun was used in a shooting at a nearby Whataburger earlier this month. At around 9 p.m. Dec. 4., SAPD bike control officers near the 400 block of E. Commerce street said they heard multiple gunshots coming from the fast food chain's downtown location and then witnessed a male, later identified as 18-year-old Pedro Ortega, running from the scene. Witnesses told police Ortega had a gun.
mysanantonio.comWatch: San Antonio officials stop popular Florida YouTuber for diving in river
A popular YouTuber from Florida was able to swim in the River Walk portion of the San Antonio River for three to five minutes before officials ordered him to get out, according to a video posted on Brandon Jordan's channel last month. City officials also asked Jordan to fill out paperwork to film on the River Walk, according to the video. Jordan plans to petition the City of San Antonio to allow him to dive into the river. It is not clear what day he was in San Antonio, but the video was uploaded Nov. 7. Watch the video of Jordan's San Antonio adventure below:Priscilla Aguirre is a general assignment reporter for MySA.com | priscilla.aguirre@express-news.net | @CillaAguirre
mysanantonio.comSan Antonio’s Esquire Tavern celebrates 87 years with benefit for family of dancer S.T. Shimi
click image Instagram /starsandgarterssaLongtime River Walk boozery the Esquire Tavern will celebrate 87 years in business Saturday, December 5, with live music by the Dirty River Jazz Band and a performance by Stars and Garters Burlesque.The performance will honor longtime Stars and Garters member S.T. Shimi, who died Wednesday night when she was struck by a vehicle while crossing Blanco Road. The troupe will donate 100% of their tips to the family of Shimi, who performed under the name Black Orchid. "[The Esquire's Repeal Day show] was one of her favorite parties/performances of each year, and pandemic be damned — she wanted to do it," according to a post on the troupe's Instagram . "The anniversary of Prohibition's repeal coincides with the birth of the long-running tavern.
sacurrent.comTikTok video goes viral for documenting maskless masses along San Antonio River Walk
ShutterstockSan Antonio's River Walk may be a source of tourist revenue and civic pride, but TikTok user @ismilly.mils isn't impressed with how many of its visitors refuse to mask up during the pandemic. "Texans don't seem too concerned with COVID,” she wrote in a TikTok video shaming the lack of face coverings along the beloved downtown attraction. @ismilly.mils uploaded her video Thursday, and Twitter account @SanAntonioProbz shared the clip to its 13,000 followers the following day. “I work downtown on Houston Street and hardly anyone is out wearing masks. Babies in strollers no masks, geriatric nightmares not wearing masks, hipster pukes not wearing masks.
sacurrent.comH-E-B buys River Walk land north of Arsenal headquarters near downtown San Antonio
click to enlarge Ben Olivo / San Antonio HeronThis River Walk property at Aubrey Street and East César E. Chávez Boulevard was recently purchased by H-E-B. H-E-B has purchased a swath of vacant land along the River Walk as part of a robust effort to grow its downtown presence. “This is part of our continued and future investment in downtown San Antonio,” she said. In 2014, H-E-B announced that it would embark on a $100 million expansion of the headquarters that would bring in about 1,600 additional employees by 2030, roughly doubling the workforce there, according to the San Antonio Express-News. The San Antonio Heron is a nonprofit news organization dedicated to informing its readers about the changes to downtown and the surrounding communities.
sacurrent.comSan Antonio’s Esquire Tavern to reopen Friday with new food and beverage offerings
click to enlarge CourtesyThe Cradle of Life — a refreshing gin and cucumber tipple — is a new bar offering at The Esquire Tavern. After a lengthy closure amid the pandemic, River Walk fixture the Esquire Tavern will fling the doors open again Friday with new leadership, new menu items and new COVID-19-fighting upgrades.“We’ve hopefully put the time we’ve been closed to good use,” owner Chris Hill said in a release. Some of Pena’s former Esquire creations will also return, including the Mas Chingoni, a tequila and mezcal concoction.The kitchen at the Esquire Tavern has also undergone a leadership change following the departure of longtime Executive Chef Brooke Smith last summer Chef de Cuisine Emilio Baez and Executive Chef Joseph Perez will oversee the reopened kitchen. Perez previously served as sous chef at Downstairs at The Esquire, which focused on charcuterie and oysters.In addition to tried-and-true favorites such as the Big Red empanada and Esquire bologna melt, the Tavern's new menu will include a pork schnitzel and a fried seafood platter, which will include beer-battered cod, gulf shrimp and more.The Esquire Tavern will reopen at 75% capacity and will follow state and local COVID-19 safety guidelines. It will operate Sunday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. until "late-ish" and Friday and Saturday from 11:30 a.m.-midnight.
sacurrent.comProgressive groups unfurl anti-John Cornyn banner along San Antonio River Walk
click to enlarge Twitter / @curbedchicagoHanging a banner on the River Walk may have gotten more visibility pre-COVID-19, but a couple of progressive groups still hope the gesture sends San Antonio voters a message about U.S. Sen. John Cornyn.Progress Texas and San Antonio's Indivisible chapter hung a banner Friday evening calling out the three-term Republican incumbent for his part in rushing through the Senate confirmation of conservative U.S. Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett days before the November election.Previously, Cornyn balked at holding a hearing for Merrick Garland, whom President Obama nominated to the court months before the 2016 election. "Cornyn, along with his fellow Senate Republicans, rushed Barrett’s confirmation process and voted to confirm a justice who’s hostile to our rights," Progress Texas said in a tweet showing off the Rive Walk banner. "All the while, they could’ve been working to pass COVID relief for millions of struggling Americans. "Cornyn is running against Democrat MJ Hegar, a decorated Air Force helicopter pilot, in a contest that's turning out to be the toughest and priciest reelection fight of his political career.
sacurrent.comSan Antonio River Walk business district opens for kayakers for the first time in three decades
click image Instagram / adventureityFor the first time in 30 years, kayaking is allowed on the business district portion of San Antonio's River Walk, MySA reports Arguably the most photographed section of the famed River Walk, the business district is home to the hotels and restaurants that pepper the banks with brightly colored umbrellas and glowing patio lights. Previously off-limits to kayak enthusiasts, interested paddlers can now cruise the section on Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings through the month of October.Go Rio Cruises, which operates the tourist boats that typically have reign over the waterway, are starting barge tours later than usual for the month, giving kayakers the hours between 8 a.m. and noon to paddle to their hearts' content.Through Mission Adventure Tours, adventurers can drop $50 to launch a rented kayak, complete with paddles and life jacket, for the two-hour, four-mile unguided route. Avid paddlers can bring their own kayak and life vest for a launch fee of $15, according to thereport.Tour reservations are available through the San Antonio River Walk Association website
sacurrent.comSan Antonio River Walk offering kayaking in famed business district for the first time in 30 years
For the first time in 30 years, kayaking will be allowed through the River Walk's scenic business district, where countless postcards and San Antonio snapshots have taken place. Kayaking on other extensions of the San Antonio River, like the King William District and Mission Reach, has been a popular activity, especially during the coronavirus pandemic. RELATED: I kayaked on the San Antonio River in the King William Historic District, here's what you need to know"This is a whole new route, a whole new ball game," said San Antonio River Walk Association Executive Director Maggie Thompson. Thompson said the city suggested the idea of kayaking on River Walk proper as a way to generate revenue. Those interested in taking advantage of the rare opportunity can book their tour on The San Antonio River Walk Association website.
mysanantonio.comSan Antonio's Ford Holiday River Parade canceled for 2020
On its website Tuesday, the San Antonio River Walk Association announced that the Ford Holiday River Parade, originally scheduled for Nov. 27 will not happen in 2020. FIND OUT FIRST: Get San Antonio breaking news directly to your inbox"Santa and Mrs. Claus are heartbroken along with us that our beloved Ford Holiday River Parade has been canceled for 2020. The river parade is known to kick off the lighting of the River Walk and ring in the Christmas season for San Antonio. Many of the River Walk restaurants also participate by offering dinner deals for guests. Other events are still scheduled for the holiday season, including the Ford Holiday Boat Caroling from Dec. 3 to Dec. 22, the Ford Fiesta de las Luminarias from Dec. 4 and Dec. 6 and the Holiday Lights on the River starting the day after Thanksgiving.
mysanantonio.comSAPD: Woman hospitalized after random stabbing on River Walk
SAPD: Woman hospitalized after random stabbing on River WalkOne woman was hospitalized after a random stabbing on River Walk Sunday morning, San Antonio police said. The photo is a file photo of the River Walk. One woman was hospitalized after a random stabbing on River Walk Sunday morning, San Antonio police said. The photo is a file photo of the River Walk. Photo: Billy Calzada /San Antonio Express-News Photo: Billy Calzada /San Antonio Express-News Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close SAPD: Woman hospitalized after random stabbing on River Walk 1 / 1 Back to GallerySan Antonio police are searching for a man in connection with a stabbing on the River Walk early Sunday morning.
mysanantonio.comShootings, fights and stabbings among incidents SAPD responded to this past weekend
Shootings, fights and stabbings among incidents SAPD responded to this past weekendLocal law enforcement has been kept busy this week as a string of violent crimes and shooting plagued the San Antonio-area. While there was only one fatal incident, several people were sent to the hospital, including one SAPD officer. Below are some of the calls SAPD responded to this past weekend. Saturday:2 p.m.: Two people were shot near the 200 block of Marmok Avenue, police said. An SAPD officer was injured after he was in a physical altercation with a man who was allegedly threatening two men in a food truck, police said.
mysanantonio.comTexas tops 1,000 new cases for third straight day
Texas tops 1,000 new cases for third straight dayA waiter serves a group dinning at a restaurant that reopen at the River Walk in San Antonio, Friday, May 1, 2020. Texas' stay-at-home orders due to the COVID-19 pandemic have expired and Texas Gov. Texas' stay-at-home orders due to the COVID-19 pandemic have expired and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ... more Photo: Eric Gay, AP Photo: Eric Gay, AP Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Texas tops 1,000 new cases for third straight day 1 / 3 Back to GalleryAUSTIN, Texas (AP) Texas hit a third straight day of more than 1,000 new coronavirus cases Saturday as the state charged into its first weekend of re-opening the economy with residents allowed to go back to malls, restaurants, movie theaters and retail stores in limited numbers. State health officials reported 1,293 new cases, the second-highest single-day infection rate, marking the first time the Texas has recorded more than 1,000 three days in a row.
mysanantonio.comSAPD: Man hospitalized after he was stabbed on the River Walk
SAPD: Man hospitalized after he was stabbed on the River WalkPolice are searching for the person responsible for a stabbing on the River Walk on Tuesday. Police are searching for the person responsible for a stabbing on the River Walk on Tuesday. Photo: JJ Trevino Photo: JJ Trevino Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close SAPD: Man hospitalized after he was stabbed on the River Walk 1 / 3 Back to GalleryPolice are searching for the person responsible for a stabbing on the River Walk on Tuesday. He told police he was stabbed by someone next to the river but managed to get away and walk up to the street level where he was found, officials at the scene said. FIND OUT FIRST: Get San Antonio breaking news directly to your inboxThe man was taken to the hospital in serious condition.
mysanantonio.comLike Venice, San Antonio's River Walk is running clear during coronavirus shutdowns
Like Venice, San Antonio's River Walk is running clear during coronavirus shutdownsTwitter user @rdrunner, or Ulises, is familiar with what the San Antonio River usually looks like because it's his usual jogging trail. less Twitter user @rdrunner, or Ulises, is familiar with what the San Antonio River usually looks like because it's his usual jogging trail. His Wednesday morning visit, exempt in the stay at home orders, stopped ... more Photo: Courtesy, @rdrunner_ Photo: Courtesy, @rdrunner_ Image 1 of / 83 Caption Close Like Venice, San Antonio's River Walk is running clear during coronavirus shutdowns 1 / 83 Back to GallerySan Antonio's River Walk, often dubbed the Venice of Texas, is similar to the famous Italian city's canals in another way both are clear while residents and tourists self-isolate during the coronavirus pandemic. Twitter user @rdrunner, or Ulises, whose normal jogging trail is along the San Antonio River was stopped in his tracks by what he saw during his run Wednesday. RELATED: Photos capture an 'eerie' but 'beautiful' downtown San Antonio during coronavirus pandemicThe environmental sciences staff for the San Antonio River Authority says the clarity can be attributed to the suspension of river barge traffic, which stirs up sediment.
mysanantonio.comThree Ways to Get Your Mardi Gras On in San Antonio This Month
click image Facebook / The San Antonio River WalkNew Orleans may have Bourbon Street and the French Quarter, but we've got the River Walk and King William District. For anyone who just can't wait for Fiesta, there's a bunch of Mardi Gras festivities coming up right here in SA. Dorol Distilling & Brewing has brought back its pup-themed Mardi Gras party for another year, and there's plenty for both bi- and quadrupedal attendees to enjoy. The pups may be the stars of the day, but a bunch of local celebs will also be in attendance, including fashion guru Michael Quintanilla, KENS 5's Jeremy Baker and drag queen Autumn Summers.It wouldn't be a San Antonio Mardi Gras without a little puro. In-house ramen shop Kuriya will serve Japanese fare for VIP attendees to enjoy while taking in a mini float parade.
sacurrent.comGet a Unique Look at the Museum Reach Light Display During Special Kayak Ride Down the River
Sure, the River Walk has been lit up for several weeks, but now's our chance to see it in a whole new way.The San Antonio River Authority has announced a special nighttime version of its Be River Proud Kayaking Event Series, which will send more than 50 kayaks down the Museum Reach portion of the River Walk on Thursday to enjoy this year's River of Lights displays. From local politics and culture to national news that hits close to home, San Antonio Current has been keeping San Antonio informed for years. Its never been more important to support local news sources. If quality journalism is important to you, please consider a donation to San Antonio Current. Every reader contribution is valuable and so appreciated, and goes directly to support our coverage of critical issues and neighborhood culture.
sacurrent.comCrumbling Gompers Statue Makes Way for New Public Art Garden
In vacating its spot, the statue has made way for the new River Walk Public Art Garden, a concept first envisioned four years ago by Public Art San Antonios Jimmy LeFlore and other officials. Part of the Department of Arts and Cultures Cul-T-Art five-year strategic plan, the new public art garden is intended to create a downtown hub that will connect to public art projects in each of the citys 10 Council districts. Scott Ball / Rivard Report permalink Scott Ball / Rivard Report permalinkThe gesture is a deliberate nod to the history of the location, and the Gompers statue. Other works will eventually occupy Phases 2 and 3 of the public art garden. Community involvement and community engagement is the most important thing when it comes to public art.
therivardreport.comWATCH: The full Day of the Dead Catrinas on the River parade in San Antonio
SAN ANTONIO - Crowds filled downtown San Antonio as the city held its first-ever Day of the Dead parade Friday. The marquee event for the city's Day of the Dead celebrations featured colorful barges decorated with skeletons, skulls, candles, incense, marigolds and pan de muerto. The three-day Day of the Dead celebrations are meant to honor loved ones who have passed away. Parade Day Gallery! Day of the Dead parade floats and prepsHere's a look at some sights and sounds of the parade:Copyright 2019 by KSAT - All rights reserved.
LIVE: Choose your own camera to watch Day of the Dead River Walk parade
SAN ANTONIO - We've set up 10 cameras along the River Walk to give KSAT.com viewers a new, be-your-own-director experience during the Day of the Dead River Walk parade, known as Catrinas on the River. At any time you are able to jump from different camera angles. It's the best way to watch every angle of the festivities and parade, which is the marquee event for the city's Day of the Dead celebrations and will feature colorful barges decorated with skeletons, skulls, candles, incense, marigolds and pan de muerto. 7 questions you were too embarrassed to ask about Dia de MuertosHere's a list of the camera locations you have access to and who will be at each. The parade will end at the Arneson Theatre with a performance by Day of the Dead dancers and performances by mariachis and mojigangas, or giant dancing puppet figures.
Mysteries of the Pyramid of the Sun, Pyramid of the Moon in Teotihuacan
In preparation of the celebration, KSAT sent a news crew to Mexico City to learn about the history and origins of the holiday. Journalists Misael Gomez, RJ Marquez and Isis Romero climbed to the top of Pyramid of the Sun and walked onto part of the Pyramid of the Moon in Teotihuacan. The Pyramid of the Sun:The Pyramid of the Sun is the largest building in Teotihuacan. The pyramid is located along the Avenue of the Dead, in between the Pyramid of the Moon and the Ciudadela. The Pyramid of the Moon:The Pyramid of the Moon is located at the northern end of the Avenue of the Dead.
Throwback Thursday: River Walk history, impact; Why it was nearly covered with cement
SAN ANTONIO - The origins of the San Antonio River Walk date back to the 1920s, when disaster struck South Texas. Plans were developed for flood control along the river, but those plans included cementing and covering the River Walk site. There are more than two dozen free events at the River Walk yearly, most of which are free to attend. Other cities contact us all the time, they want to have a River Walk in their city, Thompson said. When I go somewhere and I say Im from San Antonio, people always know what the River Walk is, so just the word River Walk, it means San Antonio.Copyright 2019 by KSAT - All rights reserved.
WATCH LIVE: UTSA/UIW pep rally on River Walk
SAN ANTONIO - The University of Texas San Antonio and the University of the Incarnate Word will meet on the gridiron for the first time this Saturday. And to mark the gridiron first, the two schools will celebrate the event with a river parade and pep rally along the River Walk on Thursday called The Hometown Showdown. Barges carrying the football teams, bands, cheerleaders and dignitaries from both schools will float the river, culminating with a pep rally at the Arneson River Theater that will include speakers from both institutions and football programs. The river parade will begin at the International Center near the South St. Mary's St. Bridge and float clockwise along the River to the Arneson River Theatre, where the rally will be held. The event is free and fans are invited to cheer on the squads along the River Walk and at the Arneson River Theater.